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Glitches and Bugs are almost a regular occurrence on the world’s largest gaming platform. The Steam disk write error can happen when you update or download a game you purchased on the Steam platform. This message typically appears when you try to download or install a new game or update a game you installed earlier. It can also arise when you try to start a game that requires an update.
Although there are multiple fixes for this error, let’s move ahead to find the best possible solution.
Cause of Steam Disk Write Error
This issue may happen due to a lack of permission in the steam folder or the folder with games. Players tackle this tiresome error while downloading and updating games such as PUBG, Dota2, GTR, etc. In fact, some disk write error can occur when:
- The drive or Steam folder is write-protected.
- There are deficits in the hard drive.
- Your firewall or antivirus blocks Steam from downloading and saving data.
- There are damaged or outdated data in the Steam directory.
If this annoying hinders you, this blog helps you resolve the issue. Jump to the next section to know how to fix the issues.
Fixing the Steam Disk Write Error
Encountering a “Disk write error” while installing or updating your favorite game is irritating. All you need to do is start the game instantly, but the error won’t let you. But no worries, there are a series of recommended fixes to assist you in continuing your game where you left off.
1. Run as Administrator
Navigate to the repository location of Steam (default position is C:/program files [86]/Steam). Right-click on the steam.exe and move to Properties. Go to the Compatibility tab in Properties and make sure, run this program as an administrator, is checked. Tap Apply and run Steam again. Verify if the Steam disk write error has been resolved.
2. Delete the 0KB File
This resolution is given by a Reddit user and several users rate it helpful. In brief, he just worked on this problem by moving into Program Files (x86)/Steam/steamapps/common and just removing a file titled Fallout that was 0KB in size. When he launched the game again, Fallout 4 loaded up correctly. This resolution might also be helpful when updating related games.
3. Remove Write Protection
When a disk is write-protected, you are incapable to change the writing and formatting. This is a different possible reason for the Steam disk write error. Please make sure the catalog of Steam is NOT read-only. Then right click your Steam launch icon and tap on Run as administrator.
But if the disk is previously written protected, you can easily clear write protection and eliminate the error applying the command.
Take Windows 10 for example- Run Command Prompt as an Administrator. Then copy these commands one by one and tap the Enter key after each:
- diskpart
- list disk
- select disk # (# is the number of the hard drive with which you have the disk error)
- attributes disk clear readonly
You can terminate the Command Prompt, return to the upgrading/downloading process, and verify if the Steam disk write error Windows 10 solved or not.
4. Clean the Steam Download Cache
Steam has a unique holding area where it caches data for currently installed games. Sometimes this cache becomes corrupt, stopping the flow of data. This is a common issue with Steam, and there’s, in fact, a smooth way you can clear the cache. You can find the clear download cache option under downloads in steam settings. Tap on it and restart Steam and try your downloads again.
5. Move Steam Game Folder to another Drive
A different efficient way to resolve Steam disk write error is by shifting Steam to a different healthy drive. A manual copy cannot confirm the result. All you require is EaseUSTodoPCTrans. It gives Steam users with 3 practical game transfer modes: Image Transfer, PC to PC, and App Migration. Each performs the best overall Steam game shift tool to move a PC game to a different drive automatically.
To shift Steam games to a different drive:
- Attach the target drive to your PC.
- Select the games you need to replace the location.
- Shift the games to the target drive.
6. Check Integrity for Steam Game Files
Just check integrity for Steam games folders at first if you see games keep failing or their models missing unknowingly.
- Reboot the system and then start Steam.
- Choose the LIBRARY tab and right-click the game that transmits disk errors and press on Properties.
- Tap on the Local Files tab, and then you can see the Verify Integrity Of Game File key. Press it.
Steam begins checking game folders, which may need a couple of minutes. Please note that some files may decline to check, which is common for most Steam games. That’s because these folders are local configuration files, and they cannot be displaced as part of this action.
When all folders are verified successfully, you can retry installing updates and see whether the disk error is eliminated.
7. Delete Corrupted Files in Log
Navigate to Steam/logs/content log and open it. Scroll to the foot of the log list, and view for a failed to write failure, which will post the file name and path of the problem. Please follow the path to remove the contaminated file, and then copy the upgrading/downloading.
8. Change Download Region
The steam user is classified into regions, with servers assigned per location. Sometimes, these servers become overloaded or slow, causing updates or installations to fail. Some people have resolved the error just by changing the default download region from within Steam’s settings. Steam has various servers spread worldwide.
By default, it will choose the server that provides you with the best speeds, but things can go off between you and that location. So, simply modifying to the next best server or the one after that can sometimes solve the write error issue. You can try altering your region manually by moving to settings>Downloads>Download Region.
9. Check Steam Write Permissions
A team disk write bug could also be due to permissions problems. If a steam library folder has been set to read-only, or the user account you run Steam from doesn’t have write permissions for the library folder, Steam can experience a disk write error. So check out if that’s the issue.
First, shut Steam if it is running. Then right-tap the icon you normally use to open Steam and tap on “Run as Administrator.” Try to install it again; if it works, you have a permissions issue.
10. Verify Game Files
Sometimes, Steam can’t write to a game’s folder because of unfinished or corrupted files. In this case, you must try to check the game installation. However, this is a built-in function in the client that checks the fame files on your system against the bugs’ checksum for the files on the server. If they do not match, Steam will consider the file on your drive corrupt and replace it with the one on the server.
Just be sure it will erase any mods you made to the game folder. You can run the integrity check from the local files section of a given game’s properties page.
11. Close Background Running Tasks
It is unnecessary to say that a couple of unwanted background running tasks or programs can easily consume many system resources, which may decrease performance. It directly impacts your game launching, gameplay, rendering of their programs running, etc., so it’s needed to close such programs or tasks entirely.
- Press the Ctrl+Shift+Esc keys to view the task manager.
- Then, tap on the processes tab > to choose tasks running without any reason in the background and consuming sufficient system resources.
- Next, tap on End task to shut the running apps one by one.
12. Contact Steam Official Support
You can also go to Steam’s official help center for guidance. Its technical support crew can walk you through possible solutions for your particular problem. You can also get help in the Steam Community forum.
- Move to the support team for guidance.
- Visit the Steam Community forum to receive further information.
Wrapping Up
We know stream error can be irritating just when you want to have some fun. But don’t worry; the above solutions will help you solve the issue in a few minutes. Hope that your steam disk write error has been fixed. If you have ever encountered these issues or tried any other way to fix the issue, then please Share with us in the comment section.